The town was a station on the Northern Pacific railroad between Sheridan and Alder. Originally known as Cicero, the name was changed to honor John Baptiste Laurin who ran a trading store nearby. John and his wife prospered by trading with the Indians and selling goods to the miners. He and his wife were in the mercantile and livestock business for almost forty years.
While they had no children of their own, they raised fourteen who had been left to their care for one reason or another. They built a magnificent Catholic church of native stone and donated it to the community. The church still stands. Perhaps Laurin is best known for its "Hangman’s Tree" where members of the Plummer Gang were dispatched at the end of a rope on January 4, 1864.
Photo Gallery
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43 93 Divide Exit
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Centennial Valley 1
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Centennial Valley 2
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Centennial Valley 3
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Centennial Valley 4
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Centennial Valley 5
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Centennial Valley 6
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Centennial Valley 7
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Copper King Man Butte
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Humbug Spires 1
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Humbug Spires 3
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Humbug Spires 4
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Humbug Spires 6
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I 15S MM 47
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I 15S MM 49
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I 15S MM 52
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I 15S N of Dillon
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I 90 M B Cardwell
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I 90 M B Exit 118
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I 90 M B Exit 124
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I 90 M B Exit 138
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I 90 M B Exit 153
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I 90 M B Homestake Pass 2
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M M Cafe Butte
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McDonald Pass
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Milwaukee Depot Butte
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Mother Lode Theatre Butte
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Rank s Mercantile Virginia
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UM Dillon
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Virginia City Courthouse
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Virginia City Library Museu
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Whitehall Murals 1
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Whitehall Murals 2
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Whitehall Murals 3
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Whitehall Murals 4
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Whitehall Murals 5
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Whitehall Murals 6
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Whitehall Murals 7
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Whitehall Murals 8
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Whitehall Murals 9
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Whitehall Murals 10
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Whitehall Murals 11
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Whitehall Murals 12
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Yesterday s Cafe 2